Australiasuicide data 2018 (ABS 2019)
Released, 25 September 2019
About this summary
• This summary was prepared by the Mindframe team at Everymind using the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Causes of death (Catalogue No. 3303.0) data released, 25 September 2019.
• When exploring suicide data it is important to remember that behind the numbers are individuals, families and communities impacted by suicide in Australia. The reasons individuals take their own life are often complex; there is no single reason why a person attempts or dies by suicide.
• Mindframe reminds media and communications professionals accessing this summary to be responsible and accurate when communicating about suicide, as there is a potential risk to vulnerable audiences. Context is therefore important. Resources to support reporting and professional communication are available at www.mindframe.org.au
• A full summary of data can be found on the Mindframe website at https://mindframe.org.au/suicide/data-statistics
Notes about this summary
• This summary represents suicide rates and trends in the 2018 (preliminary) data, trends by age group over time and state variations.
• This is the third year that the ABS have released the preliminary data at an earlier date. Suicide data is now released nine months (in September) after the conclusion of the year. Before 2016, suicide data was released 15 months after the conclusion of the year.
• This release includes 2017 and 2018 preliminary data, 2016 first-revision data and 2015 final data. The second and final revision for 2016 data and the first revision for 2017 data will be released in 2020.
Notes about using statistics
• ABS advises that care should be taken in comparing 2018 data with:
• Previous years, as some data has been subject to quality improvement processes; and
• Pre-2006 data, as this data was not subject to the revision process.
• Due to the relatively small population size in some states and territories, even one or two deaths can have a significant impact on state-specific age-standardised suicide rates. Therefore, comparisons across Australia must be done with caution.
• For all national data reported here, we report age-specific rates, which are the number of registered deaths attributed to suicide, divided by the estimated national resident population for each age group.
• For comparisons of state specific data, we report on age-standardised rates, which control for the differences in age that exist between each state.
General summary
2018 2017 2016*
In 2018, there were 3,046 deaths by suicide with an age-specific rate of 12.2 per 100,000.
This equates to an average of 8.3**deaths by suicide in Australia each day.
There were 2,320 male deaths at a age-specific rate of 18.7 per 100,000.
There were 726 female deaths at an age-specific rate of 5.8 per 100,000.
In 2017, there were 3,128 deaths by suicide with an age-specific rate of 12.7 per 100,000.
This equates to an average of 8.6**deaths by suicide in Australia each day.
There were 2,348 male deaths at a age-specific rate of 19.2 per 100,000.
There were 780 female deaths at an age-specific rate of 6.3 per 100,000.
In 2016, there were 2,911 deaths by suicide with an age-specific rate of 12.0 per 100,000.
This equates to an average of 8.0**deaths by suicide in Australia each day.
There were 2,173 male deaths at a age-specific rate of 18.1 per 100,000.
There were 738 female deaths at an age-specific rate of 6.1 per 100,000.
* 2016 data reported here reflect data subject to the first round of data revision by the ABS. **This is calculated by Mindframe and we recommend using with caution.
Preliminary age-specific suicide rates (2018)
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
0-14 15-19 20-24 25-29 30-34 35-39 40-44 45-49 50-54 55-59 60-64 65-69 70-74 75-79 80-84 85 and over
Suic
ide
rate
(per
100
,000
)
Age category
Male Preliminary
Female Preliminary
Age-specific suicide rates (1989-2018)
0.0
5.0
10.0
15.0
20.0
25.0
30.0
35.0
40.0
45.0
50.0
1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
Suic
ide
rate
s (pe
r 100
,000
)
Year
Preliminary Male
Revised Male
Preliminary Female
Revised Female
* 2015 and 2016 data reported here reflects data subject to the first and final round of data revision by the ABS, respectively.
Males (2016-2018)Age-specific suicide rates
* 2016 data reported here reflects data subject to the first round of data revision by the ABS.
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
0-14 15-19 20-24 25-29 30-34 35-39 40-44 45-49 50-54 55-59 60-64 65-69 70-74 75-79 80-84 85 and over
Suic
ide
rate
s (pe
r 100
,000
)
Age group
2016
2017
2018
Females (2016-2018)Age-specific suicide rates
* 2016 data reported here reflects data subject to the first round of data revision by the ABS.
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
0-14 15-19 20-24 25-29 30-34 35-39 40-44 45-49 50-54 55-59 60-64 65-69 70-74 75-79 80-84 85 and over
Suic
ide
rate
(per
100
,000
)
Age group
2016
2017
2018
Australia12.1 per 100,000
Age-standardised death rate by state and territory (2016-2018)
* 2016 data reported here reflects data subject to the first round of data revision by the ABS.
10.4 10.1
14.213.3
14.4
17.3
19.6
7.2
10.9
9.6
16.3
12.8
15.8 15.6
20.3
14.1
11.1
9.1
15.8
12.0
14.7 14.5
19.5
11.0
0.0
5.0
10.0
15.0
20.0
25.0
NSW Vic. Qld SA WA Tas. NT ACT
2016 2017 2018
Comorbidity explanation
• Where suicide is listed as the primary cause of death, a comorbidity is the presence of one or more diseases or disorders in an individual, as noted by a coroner on a death certificate.
• The list of comorbidities reported may not be exhaustive, as there may have been other associated factors not listed in coroner’s reporting for suicide deaths. It is also important to note that the presence of a comorbidity does not indicate a causal association, and that comorbidities are not mutually exclusive categories.
• Comorbidities are heavily influenced by age; e.g. cancer was a common comorbidity in those aged over 65 years (13.0%) despite only having been associated with a small number of overall deaths. Substance use is more commonly identified as a co-occurring factor among younger people (39.9% in those aged 25-44), as is the related finding of drugs and other substances in the blood (28.5% in those aged 25-44).
Comorbidity
• Mood disorders (including depression) was the most common comorbid factor associated with suicide, reported in 43.9% of all suicides, followed by drug and alcohol use disorders (29.4%).
• Anxiety and stress-related disorders was associated with 17.6% of suicide deaths.
• Alcohol and other drugs were found in the blood at the time of death in 21.5% of suicide deaths. This co-occurring factor had the largest increase from 2017 (14.9%).
0 – 14 year olds• Suicide among children (aged 0-14) is rare, with
considerably fewer deaths than any other age group.
• There were 22 deaths by suicide amongst youth aged 0-14 years with an age-specific rate of 0.5 per 100,000.
• There were 12 deaths among male youth in this age group at an age-specific rate of 0.5 per 100,000.
• There were 10 deaths among female youth in this age group at an age-specific rate of 0.4 per 100,000.
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
Suic
ide
rate
(per
100
,000
)
Year
Male
Female
* 2015 and 2016 data reported here reflects data subject to the first and final round of data revision by the ABS, respectively. **Prior to 2010 data was not available for this age group
15 – 19 year oldsAge-specific suicide rates 1989 - 2018
* 2015 and 2016 data reported here reflects data subject to the first and final round of data revision by the ABS, respectively.
Note: dotted line represents overall trend
0.0
5.0
10.0
15.0
20.0
25.0
30.0
35.0
40.0
45.0
50.0
1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
Suic
ide
rate
(per
100
,000
)
Year
Male
Female
8
10
12
14
16
2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
Suic
ide
rate
(per
100
,000
)
Year
Five year trend (male and female combined)15 – 19 year olds
20 - 24 year oldsAge-specific suicide rates 1989 - 2018
0.0
5.0
10.0
15.0
20.0
25.0
30.0
35.0
40.0
45.0
50.0
1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
Suic
ide
rate
(per
100
,000
)
Year
Male
Female
10
12
14
16
18
2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
Suic
ide
rate
(per
100
,000
)
Year
Five year trend (male and female combined)20-24 year olds
* 2015 and 2016 data reported here reflects data subject to the first and final round of data revision by the ABS, respectively.
25 - 29 year oldsAge-specific suicide rates 1989 - 2018
0.0
5.0
10.0
15.0
20.0
25.0
30.0
35.0
40.0
45.0
50.0
1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
Suic
ide
rate
(per
100
,000
)
Year
Male
Female
10
12
14
16
18
2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
Suic
ide
rate
(per
100
,000
)
Year
Five year trend (male and female combined)25-29 year olds
* 2015 and 2016 data reported here reflects data subject to the first and final round of data revision by the ABS, respectively.
30 – 34 year oldsAge-specific suicide rates 1989 - 2018
0.0
5.0
10.0
15.0
20.0
25.0
30.0
35.0
40.0
45.0
50.0
1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
Suic
ide
rate
(per
100
,000
)
Year
Male
Female
10
12
14
16
18
20
2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
Suic
ide
rate
(per
100
,000
)
Year
Five year trend (male and female combined)30-34 year olds
* 2015 and 2016 data reported here reflects data subject to the first and final round of data revision by the ABS, respectively.
35 - 39 year oldsAge-specific suicide rates 1989 - 2018
Note: dotted line represents overall trend
0.0
5.0
10.0
15.0
20.0
25.0
30.0
35.0
40.0
45.0
50.0
1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
Suic
ide
rate
(per
100
,000
)
Year
Male
Female
10
12
14
16
18
20
2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
Suic
ide
rate
(per
100
,000
)
Year
Five year trend (male and female combined)35-39 year olds
* 2015 and 2016 data reported here reflects data subject to the first and final round of data revision by the ABS, respectively.
40 - 44 year oldsAge-specific suicide rates 1989 - 2018
Note: dotted line represents overall trend
0.0
5.0
10.0
15.0
20.0
25.0
30.0
35.0
40.0
45.0
50.0
1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
Suic
ide
rate
(per
100
,000
)
Year
Male
Female
10
12
14
16
18
20
22
2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
Suic
ide
rate
(per
100
,000
)
Year
Five year trend (male and female combined)40-44 year olds
* 2015 and 2016 data reported here reflects data subject to the first and final round of data revision by the ABS, respectively.
45 - 49 year oldsAge-specific suicide rates 1989 - 2018
Note: dotted line represents overall trend
0.0
5.0
10.0
15.0
20.0
25.0
30.0
35.0
40.0
45.0
50.0
1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
Suic
ide
rate
(per
100
,000
)
Year
Male
Female
10
12
14
16
18
20
22
24
2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
Suic
ide
rate
(per
100
,000
)
Year
Five year trend (male and female combined)45-49 year olds
* 2015 and 2016 data reported here reflects data subject to the first and final round of data revision by the ABS, respectively.
50 - 54 year oldsAge-specific suicide rates 1989 - 2018
0.0
5.0
10.0
15.0
20.0
25.0
30.0
35.0
40.0
45.0
50.0
1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
Suic
ide
rate
(per
100
,000
)
Year
Male
Female
10
12
14
16
18
20
22
2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
Suic
ide
rate
(per
100
,000
)
Year
Five year trend (male and female combined)50-54 year olds
* 2015 and 2016 data reported here reflects data subject to the first and final round of data revision by the ABS, respectively.
55 - 59 year oldsAge-specific suicide rates 1989 - 2018
0.0
5.0
10.0
15.0
20.0
25.0
30.0
35.0
40.0
45.0
50.0
1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
Suic
ide
rate
(per
100
,000
)
Year
Male
Female
10
12
14
16
18
2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
Suic
ide
rate
(per
100
,000
)
Year
Five year trend (male and female combined)55-59 year olds
* 2015 and 2016 data reported here reflects data subject to the first and final round of data revision by the ABS, respectively.
60 - 64 year oldsAge-specific suicide rates 1989 - 2018
0.0
5.0
10.0
15.0
20.0
25.0
30.0
35.0
40.0
45.0
50.0
1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
Suic
ide
rate
(per
100
,000
)
Year
Male
Female
10
12
14
16
18
2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
Suic
ide
rate
(per
100
,000
)
Year
Five year trend (male and female combined)60-64 year olds
* 2015 and 2016 data reported here reflects data subject to the first and final round of data revision by the ABS, respectively.
65 - 69 year oldsAge-specific suicide rates 1989 - 2018
Note: dotted line represents overall trend
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
Suic
ide
rate
(per
100
,000
)
Year
Male
Female
8
10
12
14
16
18
2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
Suic
ide
rate
(per
100
,000
)
Year
Five year trend (male and female combined)65-69 year olds
* 2015 and 2016 data reported here reflects data subject to the first and final round of data revision by the ABS, respectively.
70 - 74 year oldsAge-specific suicide rates 1989 - 2018
Note: dotted line represents overall trend
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
Suic
ide
rate
(per
100
,000
)
Year
8
10
12
14
16
18
2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
Suic
ide
rate
(per
100
,000
)
Year
Five year trend (male and female combined)70-74 year olds
* 2015 and 2016 data reported here reflects data subject to the first and final round of data revision by the ABS, respectively.
75 - 79 year oldsAge-specific suicide rates 1989 - 2018
Note: dotted line represents overall trend
0.0
5.0
10.0
15.0
20.0
25.0
30.0
35.0
40.0
45.0
50.0
1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
Suic
ide
rate
(per
100
,000
)
Year
Male
Female
10
12
14
16
18
2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
Suic
ide
rate
(per
100
,000
)
Year
Five year trend (male and female combined)75-79 year olds
* 2015 and 2016 data reported here reflects data subject to the first and final round of data revision by the ABS, respectively.
80 - 84 year oldsAge-specific suicide rates 1989 - 2018
Note: dotted line represents overall trend
0.0
5.0
10.0
15.0
20.0
25.0
30.0
35.0
40.0
45.0
50.0
1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
Suic
ide
rate
(per
100
,000
)
Year
Male
Female
10
12
14
16
18
2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
Suic
ide
rate
(per
100
,000
)
Year
Five year trend (male and female combined)80-84 year olds
* 2015 and 2016 data reported here reflects data subject to the first and final round of data revision by the ABS, respectively.
85 + year oldsAge-specific suicide rates 1989 - 2018
* 2015 and 2016 data reported here reflects data subject to the first and final round of data revision by the ABS, respectively. ** Statistics available prior to 1997 reported the eldest category as 75 plus. To include this data for illustrative purposes, data here represents 75+ for all data pre 1997.*** Caution in using this data due to population size.
Note: dotted line represents overall trend
0.0
5.0
10.0
15.0
20.0
25.0
30.0
35.0
40.0
45.0
50.0
1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
Suic
ide
rate
(per
100
,000
)
Year
Male
Female
10
12
14
16
18
20
2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
Suic
ide
rate
(per
100
,000
)
Year
Five year trend (male and female combined)85+ year olds
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